Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-25
A BIG BLAZE.
A VERY DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN Reds.
WILLIE, n. c.
Thirteen Houses, Including Eleven Stores,
aHotsl, and q Warehouse, Burned
The Insurance.
Lcorrespondepce Of tho Richmond pispa,ch.l

correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
REIDsvIILE, n. c., Jan. "a, 1887.
Reidsville was visited by a destruc-
tive fire yesterday morning, and thirteen
houses, including eleven stores, a hotel,
and warehouse, were destroyed. The
fire originated in Overbey's bar-room,
in the lower part of the town, about l
o'clock. Nobody seems TO know
how it had it's beginning. II il
said that when first seen the fire
was on the outside OF the house,
and there are those who say that it was
the work of an incendiary. This, how
ever, is mere speculation. From Over
bey's saloon the flames communicated
themselves to Thomas's saloon to the
south, and after this the fire took the
opposite direction and gobbled up the
Harris block. This block Of buildings
was between Lehman's store and Watts
tobacco-factory. There were in it nine
brick stores, the Piedmont Hotel, and
the Star warehouse. The wind was
blowing from the south, and although
the Reidsville steamer was soon on the
spot and did all in its power to arrest
the flames, it was impossible to ex-
tinguish the fire, and it burned till
there was nothing left to consume.
The hose was too short to accomplish
the best results and the mayor tele-
graphed to Danville for assistance. A
lot Of hose and several fremen were
sent from Danville on a special train,
but the train did not reach here until
the fire WAS under control. Nobody
WIS hurt and fortunately no buildings
outside of the block were burned.
Mr.. j. NJ. Harris is the principal
loser. He came to Reidsville twenty
years ago and bought up n property
which has greatly enhanced in value
within the past few years. He owned
the hotel and eight of the stores and
the Star warehouse. He had also
about $1,000 worth of tobacco III the
warehouse. His entire loss is about
$4,000, and his insurance is only
$4,000. Mr.. Harris, it is said, had
some scruples about insuring, believing
that such things ought to be left to
Providence. His warehouse was in
sured by the parties WHO leased it, and
one other building was insured because
he owed something on it. Mr.. Har
ris SAYS the reason he did not insure
was because the rate was too high. A
full list of the insurance is rs follows
r. S. Thomas, Springfield, 500
Phoenix, $500; Royal, 5000; Home,
$500.
l.. c. Overbey, Mercantile, $500; Fire
Insurance Association, 5000; Standard,
1926.
J. NJ. Small Ton building), Washing
ton Fire and Marine, 500; Fire-Insu
rance Association, $500.
$. s. Harris (building), Standard,
81 eco; Council Bluffs, $500; Mechanics,
$500; London Association, 81, 500.
Harris Brothers & Stone stock, Me-
chanics, S2, 200; Phoenix, 81, 800; Ham
burg Bremen, 81, 800; London Associa-
ton, 1000; Rochester German, 81, 900.
Giles & Co. Stock, Home, 900;
Springfield. $500; Hartford, 1000;
Commercial Union, $500.
j. VI. Harris, Springfield, $1,000;
New York Underwriters, $1,000.
Watt Brothers d Womack, proprietOrs
Star warehouse, Scottish Union and
National Stock, $500.
r. NJ. Miller, Washington Fire and
Marine, $500.
The entire loss is estimated at $780,
coo; insurance, sd, 800. divided among
eighteen companies Most of the build
ings will be replaced at once. Mr.. Har-
ris says the blow has been hard one
on him, but that he has as much more
property left, and will have no trouble
in replacing his buildings.
This section WAS visited by a terrific
storm of rain and wind Sunday night,
though no damage was done, as far as
| learn, COPELAND.